Port Houston Reports Cargo Tonnage Up 7 Percent So Far In 2018

The amount of cargo handled at Port Houston was up 7 percent through the first two months of 2018, signaling another strong year, Executive Director Roger Guenther announced March 27.

Through February, Port Houston terminals handled 6.1 million tons of cargo, which Guenther called an encouraging start for this year. He made the remarks at the March meeting of the port commission.

“We are off and running, a quarter of the way through another busy year, and port facilities are seeing tremendous activity and delivering solid results,” said Guenther.

Those results include a noteworthy uptick in steel imports, which were up 17 percent in January and February. Although steel tariffs went into effect in mid-March, exemptions have been granted for many countries that export steel. Steel volumes at Port Houston continue to look strong, according to the port.

Container activity is up nearly 1 percent for the first two months, despite being compared to 2017, a year in which substantial container volume increases were recorded. While container exports have been less than expected so far, the increased production of resins resulting from the expansion of facilities along the Houston Ship Channel is beginning to materialize and an upward trend is anticipated for the remainder of the year.

In 2017, Port Houston was the fastest-growing of the top 10 container ports in the United States, based on PIERS data.

Port commissioners recently approved investments to handle future demand of general cargo and container facilities, including design for rehabilitation and repair of Dock 9 at the Turning Basin Terminal and the purchase of eight rubber-tired gantry cranes at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal.